In central European latitudes, the laurel (Laurus nobilis) or spice laurel can only be overwintered outdoors in particularly mild and sheltered locations without any problems. In a suitable location, a properly planted laurel hedge can achieve amazing annual growth.

Choosing the right time to cut a laurel hedge

While hedges from the botanically not directly related cherry laurel should be cut every spring from a certain size, the real laurel tends to grow more compact by nature. It therefore only requires a corresponding cut if:

  • a laurel hedge becomes too high or too wide
  • pruning is intended to stimulate new growth underneath dead wood
  • Leaves are intended to be harvested and dried for use in cooking
  • a laurel in a pot is getting too big for the winter quarters
  • a special growth habit is to be achieved by topiary

A pruning in the spring is optimal for the laurel, because then the accruing cutting material can best be used and the plants can already recover a little from the pruning until the summer dry phases.

Use cuttings from the laurel for propagation by cuttings

The real laurel can be propagated very well by rooting cuttings. To do this, cut off half-ripe cuttings as part of the cut and put them in a partially shaded location in a mixture of peat and sand. As soon as the cuttings have formed their own roots after six months, you can move the actually sun-loving plants to a place with direct sunlight.

Cut the bay leaf by hand if possible

When pruning laurel, the question not only arises as to when, but also as to how. Even with larger hedges, you should not tend to use electric hedge trimmers in view of the amount of work involved, as this often results in an ugly picture after the cut. The quick cut means that half-cut leaves turn brown and disrupt the overall green appearance of the hedge for weeks. In addition, if the branches are cut manually with clean hand scissors, they can be used for propagating cuttings or for processing in the kitchen.

Topiary as a special shape for a laurel hedge

As a robust and compact-growing plant, the spice laurel is very popular with fans of the topiary art. With a little skill and a careful pruning technique, you can form cones and pyramids from the individual plants of a laurel hedge within a few years. However, keep in mind that you have to reckon with a time expenditure of about ten years from the propagation for a high standard with a height of about one meter made of real laurel.

tips and tricks

Due to their dense growth, laurel hedges serve as breeding grounds for many birds. Therefore, check your laurel hedge for any residents before trimming and, if necessary, postpone the pruning to a later date.

WK

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Trees